BIOL 233 Exam #1 Flashcards
What does the Nervous System do?
“Electrical” Communication
What does the Endocrine System do?
Chemical Communication
What are the functions of the Nervous System?
- Communicates by means of electrical impulses and neurotransmitters.
- Releases neurotransmitters at synapses at specific target cells.
- Usually has relatively local, specific effects.
- Reacts quickly to stimuli, usually within 1-10 ms.
- Stops quickly when stimulus stops.
- Adapts relatively quickly to continual stimulation.
What are the functions of the Endocrine System?
- Communicates by means of hormones.
- Releases hormones into bloodstream for general distribution throughout the body.
- Sometimes has very general, widespread effects.
- Reacts more slowly to stimuli, often taking seconds to days.
- May continue responding long after stimulus stops.
- Adapts relatively slowly, days to weeks.
What are the structures of a Neuron?
- Dendrites
- Axon
- Axon Terminal
- Synapse
- Cell Body
What is the purpose of Dendrites?
Receives a message
What is the purpose of an Axon?
Conducts a message away from the neuron
What is the purpose of an Axon Terminal?
The “electrical” message is converted into a chemical message (neurotransmitter).
What is the purpose of a Synapse?
The space where the neurotransmitter release occurs to stimulate the next cell.
What is the purpose of the Cell Body (SOMA)?
Most cell typical part of a neuron
What is Santiago Ramon Y. Cajal known for?
Founding Scientist in the Modern Approach to Neuroscience. Received Nobel Prize in 1906.
Where is the Autonomic Nervous System located?
In the Motor Division of the PNS.
What is the function of the Autonomic Nervous System?
Subconsciously controlled
What does the Central Nervous System do?
Receiving, Processing, and Responding to sensory information. Involves the brain and spinal cord.
What does the Peripheral Nervous System do?
Involves the Sensory and Motor Division. Involves Sympathetic and Parasympathetic System.
What are the divisions of the Motor area of PNS?
Somatic and Autonomic division
How is the Somatic division controlled?
Unconsciously
How is the Autonomic division controlled?
Subconsciously
What is the purpose of the Sympathetic division?
“Fight or Flight”
What is the purpose of the Parasympathetic division?
“Resting and Digesting”
What is a Neurons Resting Potential?
-70 mV
What is a Neurons Action Potential?
-65 mV
What are the 5 Neuroglia Cell Types?
- Astrocytes
- Microglia
- Endymal Cells
- Schwann Cells
- Oligodendrocytes
What is the purpose of Astrocytes?
Supports the activity of neurons.
What is the purpose of Microglia?
Immune responsive cells and nervous system.
What is the purpose of Ependymal Cells?
Produces CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid).
What is the purpose of Schwann Cells?
Produces myelin in PNS (sheet-like material that wraps around a neuron to shape the speed of message transport). More myelin=faster message transport
What is the purpose of Oligodendrocytes?
Produces myelin in the CNS
What are Steroidal Hormones?
- direct effect on target cell
- enters body through PLB and the nuclear membrane
- hormone directly interacts with gene material in the nucleus to change expression and protein production in the cell
What are Non-Steroidal Hormones?
- indirect effect on target cell
- use second messenger: hormonal signal interacts with target cells PLB to integral protein cell PLB
- integral protein guides 2nd messenger response into the cell
- the 2nd messenger will change gene expression and protein production in the cell
How does the Brain and Endocrine Glands Interact with eachother?
The development of the pituitary and hypothalamus prenatally is critical for growth and development
Thymus Gland Characteristics
- produces thymosin; stimulates the development of T-lymphocytes (cells) which is our immune response
- larger in newborns than adults
Thyroid Gland Characteristics
- produces Calcitonin; imbeds calcium into bone tissue
- produces T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine); helps regulate metabolism
- high T3 + T4= faster metabolic rate
- low T3 + T4= slower metabolic rate
What is Hypothyroidism?
T3 and/or T4 is below homeostatic level
Symptoms: cold, sluggish, higher rate to develop obesity because of slower metabolic rate
What is Hyperthyroidism?
T3 and/or T4 is above homeostatic level
Symptoms: flush, hyperkinetic, very thin
What is Graves Disease and what is the treatment?
Untreated hyperthyroidism.
The immune system begins attacking the thyroid.
Treated with radioactive iodine
What is MSH and its role?
The hormone that has the ability to stimulate the melanocytes in our skin to produce more melanin (pigment).
What hormones impact the Short-Term Stress Response?
Catecholamines; epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Produces by the Adrenal Medulla
What are the physiological effects due to the secretion of catecholamines in Short-Term Stress Response?
- increased heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- liver converts glycogen to glucose and then releases into blood
- dilation of bronchioles
- changes in blood flow leads to decreased digestive system activity and reduced urine output
- increased metabolic rate